Great job Motorweek! All your car reviews are very professional, traditional, and very detail; unlike all the other youtubers who thought they are auto reviewer just because they have a camera and a brochure.
Marshall Street Yep, especially the CL Type-S. That car was so torquey and ahead of its time, before it got knocked down or rivaled by the Infiniti Gs.
Marshall Street I don't understand honda filosophy 1.8 integra 195hp 1997 2018 205hp 2.4 20 years of devolution imo just like new nsx 570hp 4 motors /competition 580hp+ 1 motor honda get your sssh together please I'm not even going to go there on the new civic type R..
I have the 95 legend and 2018 TLX. The TLX is so much more comfortable, smoother and way more refined. You can’t really expect Acura to go back in time. Times passed is passed. The new TLX is just so much better in many ways. I find it even quieter than the Lexus ES. It’s just such a well rounded car.
I had an '07 TL, a '10 TSX V6, a '13 TL Advance and now a '16 TLX Advance and the '16 is my favorite. The '13 TL was more sporty but the '16 is definitely more refined.
The Acura philosophy is similar to Volvo philosophy: don't win any competitions, instead just raise your own bar to beat your former self. Modest in the grand scheme of things.
Meh. If you really look at it closely, this is much more of a design flow from the 3rd Gen than that shark-nosed 4th Gen! It really does give off a nice look. A Type-S it is not, but when I look at what BMW has done with the latest 3-Series this is just as stunning if not more so.
Wow! Hate hate hate hate hate??? I saw an A-Spec in person in White with the red interior. I thought it looked awesome! To each there own but for the price this is a lot of car!
I love how most of these comments keep referring to the Infiniti: A nameplate that can't stick with a vehicle nomenclature to save their lives. Not to mention all the other ills that brand is suffering. While I agree that Acura had gotten complacent I also think they really outdid themselves with the 07-08 Type-S. If you look at that car there is a lot to live up to after than and we all know the 4th Gen TL feel horribly flat. This is getting back-to-basics and I feel like a building block to reviving their former glory. And I am more than certain based off all the complaints about all the mechanics/tech of this car, have you even driven it?
It must be difficult to be the only "luxury" brand to have fwd minivan based SUV's and fwd econobox based sedans. This can't be the best they can do, plebeian fwd platforms aside.
Exactly +oldtwins na... A true Type-S today will require a +350HP Engine with +320lb-tq paired to a Modern DCT... Perhaps the first mainstream Twin Turbo V6 from Acura that can match an Audi S4?
Rain Santiago Honda would have to care about Acura to do that which they obviously don't. Acura is a pointless brand now with outdated models left behind while Honda has newer models like the recently redesigned Civic, Accord and Pilot. Why in the hell doesn't Acura have models based on the latest Honda models at the same time?
Acura Introduced the next gen Truck Platform with the 2014 MDX which then derived the New Pilot and New Ridgeline... So Acura introduced that platform for Honda.
You get good bang for your buck. It's no luxury sedan from the inside, but all the features are there. The exterior is a love it or hate it, like most cars today. Performance wise it should do good, perhaps even posting a high to mids 13s 1/4 mile.
There's no way this is getting mid to high 13's. Not a chance. It's a low 14 second car at best. And before you say that it's still a respectable time, consider the Accord V6 will net you nearly the same time (2 tenths off due to lesser gearing) at 10-15k less money.
oldtwins na it's all wheel drive, traditional auto, summer tires, almost 270 tq and looks way better than the 2018 accords. I think it will forsure pull high 13s. It has the torque to back it up. The accord "sport" doesn't even come with a v6 anymore, not to mention fwd with all season tires.
Well, it's somewhat better looking than before, and is roughly the same size as 04-09 TL models are.. BUT losing the 6 speed, will keep me in my 05 TL 6 speed longer! My best friend sold me that car when he bought his new TL SH AWD 6 speed in '10. That car is too big for me, even if it is faster and handles better. To each his own..
Why does Honda have the OEM 10-speed transmission while Acura has the 9-speed ZF source transmission? Why didn't the TLX get the turbo-4 soon to be offered in the new Accord? Why would Honda put newer technology in Honda as opposed to Acura. Is Acura ever going to get a turbo V6 that most of its competitors are already implementing. Why does Honda even have Acura... seriously.
The 10 Speed has a different spread of ratios while it may seem better than the 9 speed from ZF it actually isn´t. You do realize all the updates you are seeing are in completely New Generations of Cars right? The TLX 1st gen is in its mid cycle life... The Accord Turbo is a new gen, New Odyssey with the 10 speed is a new gen.
I think Honda has given up on Acura in the past 10 years. Ever since the 2009 Acura TL it has all been downhill for Acura. If Honda was smart they would have completely redesigned the ILX at the same time as the all new 2016 Honda Civic and brought out an all new TLX based on the all new Honda Accord for 2018. Why are they making two different cars, one that costs less (Accord) with better technology and chassis, and one that costs more (TLX) with older technology and older chassis? Honda is ass backwards and is keeping Acura uncompetitive. This refreshed TLX shouldn't even exist. There should be an all new TLX with a real grill based on the all new 2018 Honda Accord with high output turbocharged 4 cylinder and 6 cylinder engines.
That moment when you compare a Coupe vs a Sedan with a 400-600lb weight difference and be surprised that the coupe its faster. Just for a REAL Apples to Apples comparison the 2016 Accord V6 SEDAN does 0 to 60 in 7.5s (CVT) and 5.8s (AUTO) while being LIGHTER than the TLX. While we are at it why we don´t compared the 2nd Gen MDX vs the 3rd Gen MDX! How is it possible that 300HP MDX loses to a 400lb lighter 290HP MDX in 0 to 60?
Well, I wouldn't take just any car somebody gave me. If someone offered me a rusted out Chevy Chevette, I'm not taking it. Call me dumb all you want...
Looks are subjective, but it really seems that most Japanese auto makers are in competition to make the ugliest cars in the market. What happened the some of the beautiful design language they used to have in the 90's and 2000's?
Same Engine than the Normal TLX on a A-SPEC..... Why you even bother Acura? This thing needs +300HP since the TLX came out. For non-Acura/Honda guys: The A-Spec was a special edition model that Canada has always got since the 2G TL.. The A-Spec has always been based on the Type-S platform which had: Bigger sways, Better springs and struts, Better trans and more Importantly a more powerful Engine. So basically this A-Spec is just a half-assed job from Acura. Since the TLX debuted It has desperately needed a bigger engine and passing that chance on a new A-Spec is just plain out stupid, This will alienate older Acura owners which are the Core buyers from Acura today... People that says "It doesn´t need a bigger engine to be fun" they are losing the point.. The base model and normal TLX can have all the weakest engines they want, The A-Spec formula should have been kept TRUE to its roots the Type-S.. Now it has been devolved into another stupid "Sport Trim".
+skirmich Your response to Darksyne is incorrect. The 07-08 TL Type-S did have a larger engine (it may have been out of the RL, but still, it was 0.3L larger).
+skirmich "Since the TLX debuted It has desperately needed a bigger engine and passing that chance on a new A-Spec is just plain out stupid" ; no, the A-Spec has always just been about aero, shocks, springs, wheels, and tires.
+HalfBreeMix The response was to the mistake done by many to think Bigger = More HP (Which in some cases do). Had nothing to do with the fact the 3G TL-S had a 3.5L instead of a 3.2L Base. You missed the fact where the A-Spec is based on a Type-S which always had the stronger engine to begin with. This is the first time the TL(X) has an A-Spec with a Base Engine.
Erich Meier That is never going to happen. Honda doesn't care enough about Acura to create a bespoke chassis (aside from the supercar NSX) and make a real luxury competitor with RWD. Acura is just a premium marque trying to scrape by and compete with premium marques like Buick. Leave RWD to the real luxury players like BMW, Mercedes, Jaguar, Infiniti and Lexus.
They do offer rear wheel drive on the hybrid with motors power the axle. I think their sport hybrid on the rlx is a very well thought out configuration. It offsets some of the battery weight by eliminating the drive shaft. The car is brilliant.
No their problem is they don't know where they fit. Their Honda parts are better value for money. They definitely aren't competing with the real Luxury makers.
Well... it's a big improvement over that hideous shield/beak design that they couldn't bear to part with for the past 7 years. Now let's see how long it takes them to figure out how obnoxiously big that front emblem is and how they will piss off the typical aspec buyer with those faux exhaust tips. Fix those issues and you almost have a 3rd gen TL lol.
Acura is a sad shadow of its former self, what with this TLX still using a V6, still on the old FWD accord platform, ditched the manual for a slow shifting 9 speed auto with BUTTONS instead of a shift lever, and the fake exhaust tips on the A-spec (which are not connected to the actual exhaust itself, they're only part of the bumper). Acura needs to wake up and implement a turbo V6, make real exhaust tips, use a fast shifting 8 speed auto, bring back the shift lever (that should never have gone away), move to the Honda global platform, shave some weight and refocus on performance. As it is right now, Lexus and even Infiniti are kicking Acura's ass, what with the Lexus IS being designed as a luxury sports sedan from the ground up and given the proper funding to achieve its goals, and Infiniti with the turbo V6.
You're getting there Acura, but you're not quite at the level premium you could be yet. Of course, you're not exactly priced at that level either, so... guess it comes out in the wash. A few more generations and maybe they could be vying for Infiniti/Lexus competitorship. They certainly seem to be putting a lot of effort into pulling themselves out of the doldrums.
Wait. "High performance Michelin Primacy tires"? Those are not what I would call high performance. Otherwise, a nicely done package. Could still use more sport. They really need a car to bring brand identity back regarding performance. They have an opportunity with the ILX, when it is based on the newest generation Civic, and either Type R performance or at least something more than SI performance. Maybe the 2.0 liter 250 hp engine from the new Accord.
Acura needs to get back to the basics that made them great, I want a new Legend, Integra, Vigor etc. They have fallen so far since the 90's when they couldn't be touched. I feel it's high time for them to get back to the basics and start with a clean slate.
The previous Acura TLX looked so much better with the shiny shield grill. This new refresh looks like a bad Kia Cadenza copy. I won't be returning my leased 2015 TLX for this horrible looking new 2018 TLX that's for sure.
it looks awesome in and out but 290hp it just not enough. its down right slow. I am talks with a dealer and I will by buying a 2017 with only 6k miles for very good deal . so what am saying is Aspec is nothing special. although my 2017 will not have the new grill but am ok with that.
the grille doesn't match the car design in my opinion. They should've redesigned the whole car instead of just adding a couple updates and putting on the new Acura grille.
Acura, why couldnt you update the j series to compete with the lexus/ infiniti engine line up, or atleast give us the slow seller RLX power figures, 310 hp with 272lb/ft, its the same goddamn engine with a different tune maybe camshafts. My 07tl type s has 286hp, port injected, "modified RL motor" as it wss said., you guys made a direct injected engine just to put it at 290hp a decade later? Sure hp isnt every thing and you must think the sloppy zf 9 speed made up the difference in driveability and fuel economy, Nope look how the world complained about it. The new ridgeline, pilot, odysssey has 280hp with the same motor, on regular fuel....tlx 290 on premium.....you guys been shooting yourself in the foot i bet
Acura as a brand and Honda as a company has lost it's design language. They have a lot to learn from companies like Hyundai and it's emerging luxury brand Genesis.
@80386, Honda doesn't have anything to learn from Hyundai because they don't have a hope against Hyundais new future plans with the Genesis line of performance and luxury cars coming down the pipeline.
the original Tlx looks very cool, i don't understand why they make the front grill look like shit now, Acura should fire the designer that was in charge for that ugly front end design. yuck,,
I don't see any value in purchasing this over the Accord, especially the new one. Same with the ILX vs the Civic; the Civic is just as nice and cheaper. I bet that Acura drops all cars within 5 years and just offers SUVs.
I really miss old, light Acuras. This styling I feel makes it look even frumpier. the 60 plus retired crowd will love this ugly Accord. Ugg. the Accord Sport with the V6 is faster and more sporty. Shame
This new grille on the TLX/MDX is one of the most ugly designs in the automotive history. Makes the car look like a cheap Korean car from 20 years ago.
